MOSCOW, (Reuters) – The European Court of Human Rights said yesterday it had fined Russia for banning homosexual parades in Moscow, in what gay rights activists described as a historic victory.
Former mayor Yuri Luzhkov, sacked earlier this month, once called gay marches “satanic” and said they would endanger public health and morality. Police have sometimes used batons against participants in gatherings.
The Euroepan Court fine was levied over three cases filed by leading gay rights activist Nikolai Alexeyev, who argued that Russia had violated the European Convention on Human Rights, to which it subscribes as a member state of the Council of Europe.
“This is a historic decision. This will set a precedent for others who wish to demonstrate but are prevented,” said Alexeyev, a lawyer.
The Strasbourg-based court ordered Russia to pay 29,510 euros ($41,090) to Alexeyev in damages and for legal fees.
It ruled that Russia had violated rights of assembly and had discriminated on grounds of sexual orientation. It said the gay community’s claims were not given a fair hearing in Russia, whose constitution guarantees the right to hold demonstrations.
